Two big events from this past week

 First of all, I met a long-lost cousin via Family Search.  Her name is Linda Dale.  She was posting Fraedrich (my mother' maiden name) information so I e-mailed her and, come to find out, our grandfathers were brothers!   She and her husband live in Des Moines, Iowa.  We had e-mailed a couple of times and she sent me a packet of Fraedrich information.  Last Friday, they were traveling home from a vacation in Branson and I invited them to stop for lunch.  We had a lovely visit.    Here we are....

The second big event was Saturday afternoon - the funeral for Marty Hook - choir director at Hickman High School for many years.  He was one of the most influential teachers for Emily, Elise, and Sarah who all sang in his ensemble.  This photo was taken at Sarah's last concert with him, her senior year. 


Below is a Facebook tribute Sarah wrote yesterday.  Emily also wrote a beautiful tribute on her blog which I cannot cut and past but here is the link.  http://emilys-little-world.blogspot.com/


11 years ago, I sang my last official Choir performance with Hickman High School's A Capella Choir directed by Marty Hook. At the end of the performance, the choir sang That Lonesome Road and as always, Mr. Hook invited Hickman Alumni to come up and sing. A tradition held for years. I was lucky enough to get to sing with my two older sisters that night. As a farewell to High School, to Hickman, to A Capella, Mr. Hook, and all the amazing memories. The tears flowed freely that night. And we three snapped a picture with the Choir director who had shaped us during some of the most formative years of our young lives.
Today, I had another opportunity to sing That Lonesome Road in a choir of Hickman Alumni including those two same sisters (as well as some dear friends). This time in memory of the life of a man who had touched so many.
The emotion was almost too much to take, and I could barely get the notes out.
To me, Mr. Hook was one of the most influential individuals in my life through high school. He awakened in me a passion for music the likes of which I had never felt. He opened my eyes to beauty I had never known or imagined, as well as the joy and magic that can only be felt when bringing music to the hearts of an audience. Introducing me to music and shaping me as a musician. Inspiring confidence. Encouraging leadership. Driving growth as he has done to young hearts and minds for years.
And today I know his heart swelled as he heard the voices of generations of his students, friends, and colleagues come together as mostly strangers, with little to no rehearsal, and make such a beautiful sound together. His heart swelled because I know, while he is no longer with us in this mortal sphere, he was there.
What a beautiful service it was with touching words of comfort and inspiration, and beautiful music abounding!
While my heart is raw and my eyes wet, I am thankful to know that he truly lives on and is honored by so many. I have no doubt his voice is raised in chorus with heavenly concourses.
Mr. Hook, you will be missed. But never forgotten.

After reading this and Emily's tribute, you can see how important he was in their lives.  So important that Emily braved four children alone and drove to Columbia to sing in the choir with Elise and Sarah.  I got to attend the funeral, both to pay tribute to this good man and to hold Larkin, who slept through it all.  It was full of musical tributes - so beautiful and so emotional.  It was full of so many musical people.  I am so glad I went.

After supper, as Emily and the kids left for St. Louis (Joe was at a business conference), I took a priceless photo on our front porch....